Introduction

Writing the screenplay is the first step to creating a feature film. Usually a screenwriter will give a brief outline of the story to a major studio. If this is accepted then the script can then be written in full. However, even when a screenplay is completed this does not guarantee that the film itself will be made.

The format of a screenplay is very specific and different to other forms of writing. If it is not written to the correct industry standard then it is likely to be rejected. It gives short descriptions of time and place, as well as character dialogue and actions. It is always written in first person. Those who want to write screenplays should learn the rules of the format.

During the early days of film making screenplays were written on physical type writers. These would then be copied and given out to the cast and crew of the production. However, in modern times screenplays can be written using a number of programmes on a computer. They can even be written using a smart device such as a mobile phone.

Famous Screenwriters

Screenwriters are not as well known as other people in the industry. Actors are often recognised because they are the ones on screen. Directors are also in the spotlight regularly. Those who write the story have more anonymity. Despite this there are a number of famous ones who are lauded for their skills.

Quentin Tarantino is often discussed due to his ingenious use of dialogue. His characters can be seen talking about seemingly incongruous aspects of life and popular culture. This gives them more depth and believability. He also references a number of well known films through his scripts.

Nora Ephron was once considered the greatest writer of romantic comedy movies. She managed to mix real life characters with sweet and funny scenarios. They were not just stories, but also commentaries on modern life.

Charlie Kaufman is popular in the industry because he manages to explore a number of serious subjects. He can do this even when the story itself is comical or silly. His scripts have helped independent films become more widespread in Hollywood. One of his most famous works is the metaphysical comedy Being John Malkovich.

Jaws is an example of how to do a film right. Director Steven Spielberg was new to the industry but proved that he could be a master at the craft. His use of suspense and action in this film helped to make him one of the most recognised people in the entire industry.

Jaws focuses on a police chief who must save his town from a shark that is attacking people. He brings along a scientist and shark hunter to help him bring down this menace. The film has a number of iconic scenes and characters. It is perhaps best remembered for the atmospheric and intense score composed by John Williams.

While filming the movie there were problems with the mechanical shark being used. Eventually it proved to be unusable. Therefore Spielberg resolved to shoot the film from the shark’s point of view instead. This helped to create an even more intense sense of menace.

The various production problems have been talked about in several books. There were technical issues with the times of day that they could shoot at sea. Several cast members were causing friction on set. The fact that Spielberg faced these and still managed to create such a fantastic film is extremely impressive.

When it was released in cinemas, Jaws terrified audiences. There are reports of people running out of the theatre. It is the reason that many people are afraid to go into the sea. It remains one of the best executed horror films of all time.

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Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:32:16 +0000http://makingwavesfilmfestival.co.uk/2018/09/28/shaun-of-the-dead/Shaun of the Dead is a great example of how to create a hybrid genre film. In this case it mixes horror with comedy. The movie does not sacrifice one for the other. In some scenes the zombie rampages are scary. Other times the character’s decisions are hilarious.

The movie has also been noted for its high level of foreshadowing. Throughout the running time the director leaves little Easter eggs which inform the viewer of events that are soon to come. This can be seen in one of the earliest scenes where the entire plot is secretly spelled out through clever dialogue.

The high quality of the film can be attributed to the collaboration between the director and cast. they had previously worked together on the sitcom Spaced. This meant that they had enough experience to get the best results from one another.

Often the best movies come from productions where the people have been working together for some time. Getting a troupe of actors together and developing a rapport is a useful tip for new filmmakers to learn. Knowing an actor’s potential and range is an important skill.

If made correctly, Troll 2 could have been a fairly standard low budget horror film. Instead it is a notoriously terrible one. The main reason for this is very specific. Troll 2 was a consequence of several communication breakdowns between the cast and those behind the camera.

The director and rest of the crew were all native Italians. They spoke to each other in the Italian language. However, the film was being made with English speaking actors. This meant that the cast were often left confused while being instructed on set. They were unsure of how to perform and as a consequence did a poor job at representing the characters.

This language issue also severely affected the script. It was written by someone who spoke Italian as their first tongue. The various nuances of this language were lost in translation. This also made the dialogue seem stilted, strange and at times incomprehensible.

Unique

The issues around the making of Troll 2 are very unique. For all intents and purposes the film is made by professionals. They were specifically brought into the US due to their technical skills. This can be seen in the formal aspects of the film. The sound and camera work are performed to a proficient degree.

Troll 2 shows us that language is an important part of the film making process. Communication is an essential part of production. If the cast are not given the right instructions they can have difficulty bringing their characters to life. Up and coming film directors should take heed of this lesson and make sure that they do not make the same mistakes in their own work.

Boredom

Manos: The Hands Of Fate is a strange film from the 1960’s that was created by someone who had no idea how movies work. It was lost for decades but has since been rediscovered. It has gained an audience due to the fact that it is “so bad it’s good”.

It begins with an overly long sequence establishing the setting for the story. This could have been done with a few short shots. Instead it takes up a significant amount of screen time. The effect that this has is to make the viewer bored.

Tension

The main source of tension is a character called Torgo who invites a family into a dangerous house. Unfortunately, Torgo is not presented in a scary way. Instead the costume, characterisation and cinematography make him seem ridiculous to the point of being comical.

This film shows us that in order to create a motion picture the people behind it need to have an understanding of form. This can be done by studying what makes the best movies work. Manos: The Hands Of Fate is a prime example of amateurs doing a poor job.

Film is a visual medium and therefore the camerawork is one of the most important aspects of it. This can determine whether the film is a success. Good cinematography will be able to tell the story, even without the need for dialogue. Different shot types can be used to manipulate the audiences emotions and give them information about the characters.

Movies for most of the 20th century were shot on physical film stock. 35 mm eventually became the standard size. However, due to technological advances the way in which movies are made has completely changed. So too has the aspect ratio of the screen.

Digital film making is fast becoming the dominant way to create motion pictures. A digital film camera can be smaller, lighter and able to record for much longer. They also give the added convenience of not having to send physical film reels to cinemas. Instead the movie is on software.

Technology also helped to popularise widescreen. This new aspect ration completely changed the way screen space was used. It meant that action set pieces became more prevalent and wide shots were seen more in films.

Use of the focus pull is an important part of cinematography. It determines where the audiences eyes are drawn to. It can bring attention to an important character or prop. Focus pulling can also add depth to the image.

People can often tell the era a film was shot in just from the cinematography. It can show the techniques, film stock and style that was specific to that moment in time. This is often used by film historians to determine the date of a movie’s production.